-Break-
Location: Streets of Căderea-Dracului
Φ Although the city, Nightmares working with the army, all in their own ways, help contribute to recovery and construction efforts. From the richest to the poorest, from the youngest to the eldest, each moves with vigour and power unknown to them before this moment, and throughout all their bodies they feel a warm and strong wave pass through them. The Queen's heartbeat moves through their bodies, rising power they never thought possible, giving them confidence through the swarm of emotions that overtake them, yet for those who struggle to stand throughout it all, her presence graces them, grant then a hug to keep them moving forward.
And throughout the city, she moves around constantly loving these people up one by one, yet it all comes to a stop as she turns around and says, "So you've come."
Stand in the middle of a street destroyed with rubble, enrapturing the very ground they stand on, Orb, with light blue hair, looks directly at the Queen, and says, "I would like to talk to you."
"If this is about Willow and Elia's date, they're over by the Cursed Sea District."
Orb's hair turns red, black, white, green, yellow, grey, and then blue as he says, "Hey, saying such misleading things to confuse me is evil."
Smirking, the Queen says, "What do you mean? I saw them walking all happy a moment ago. A secret affair between the siblings' partners, how scandalous."
"WILLOW WON'T CHEAT, AND SINCE WHEN DID ELIA BECOME MY PARTNER!"
Taking a seat on a rock, she slams her perfect body onto the ground and bounces up a little before saying, "With the way she wrangled you earlier, I thought she had to be?" Orb freezes for a moment as his hair turns silver, before she says, "Did I break you or something? Or are your hormones just acting up?"
Smiling from the depths of his heart, Orb says, "No, your mannerisms are so attractive, and you're just so cute that I am sure your parents have nice, lovely-dovey sex when making you, definitely wasn't a rough sex baby."
Echoing a laugh through the area, the Queen lifts her arm and reforms it into a giant mutated gun before letting out a bullet of wind that blows right past Orb's check before soaring right into one of Balaurs giant bones, obliterating it.
With sweat trickling down, Orb says, "I take you didn't like my compliment."
Staring around at the people scattered around them both, she says, "I am now starting to see that you really were raised by that overgrown failure of a man known as the pest Captivant. It seems Dragoste really was an exception cause that man has released two utter freaks into the world."
Holding out his arms, Orb says, "Then, as forgiveness, I will allow you to hug me. Despite my amazing rippling godly muscles, I happen to be incredibly soft and comfy. I work well as a stress human."
Smiling, she says, "That sounds amazing. I might throw you around a bit and see if you break."
Taking a seat, Orb says, "Deny me all you want, but one day I will get you to allow me to sniff that glorious body."
"Why the hell are you here? Did you just graduate from sexual harassment school? Are you here to sexually harass a woman who could be older than your legacy?"
Tapping his feet together, Orb stares directly at Dumitra's eyes and says, "No, but it's a rather good plus seeing all those expressions on your face. I came here today to ask you for a favour, please hand over all the criminals from Blamator to Nifhileim, and allow us to take care of their rehabilitation."
In an instant, a giant door appears at the feet of all the Nightmares scattered around the area and opens up, turning into portals that transport each of them elsewhere. Fury and rage build in Dumitra's face as she says, "Is that the nonsense you seem to have come up with? I am going to give you a single time to answer, utterly austere, why do you think I would ever agree to such a foolish idea?"
Orb's hair turns green, and he asks, "Why did you give up your throne to Alucard?"
"What?"
"Please, answer me," Orb says with a tender smile.
"You already know the reason: my reputation was far lower due to my actions during the era of Levav, while Alucard was seen as a hero not only by Blestemate, but most of the world at the time. It was a pragmatic decision."
"No, I don't think that's true. When Alucard took over Blestemate, you didn't just step down; you left the country itself. Alucard was strong, but the idea that you would distance yourself from the country to such a ridiculous level makes me believe there was something else."
"Are you trying to imply I felt ashamed and left the country for that? I would have you know I regret no action I have ever taken in regards to humankind, I only ever regret that my citizens have been hurt."
"I believe that statement to be true, but it isn't what I am getting at. I think the reason you left is the same reason Cole tried to sell Aplos, Dush became the ruler of Basileia, Suzuka was to be executed, Ahmed wanted to kill people, Abbán decided to go to war, and even why Dragoste wanted to start this conflict."
Raising his arm, Orb says, "When I raise my arm, I activate certain muscles, and it causes a certain feeling. Unless something extreme affects me like an ability or a mortal wound, I know without a doubt that when I raise my right arm, my right arm will ascend. If tomorrow someone told me that instead my left arm will raise, when I will tell my right to, I'd say they are crazy. For me, it has happened consistently to the point that it is a predictable outcome. Dumitra, you have no hope for the future."
Her face tenses in anger as she says, "Do not confuse courage with stupidity, Orb."
"I have done no such thing; it's your eyes which are clouded by the past."
"My eyes see through delusions; the knowledge I have gained has allowed me to do that."
"THAT KNOWLEDGE HAS LED YOU TO KILLING YOUR OWN PEOPLE, THE FLESH AND BLOOD WHO DESCENDED FROM THOSE YOU ONCE STAKED YOUR LIFE TO FIGHT FOR! THAT KNOWLEDGE HAS ONLY LED YOU TO EVIL!"
"BE QUIET! LEAD ME TO EVIL? YOU ARE THE ONE WHO ASKS FOR SALVATION FOR THE WICKED. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WISHES TO PUSH MONSTERS ONTO THOSE HE CARES FOR. YOU IGNORE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING EMBEDDED INTO THE HEARTS OF THE INNOCENT DUE TO THEIR DEEDS. THE INNOCENT DESIRE JUSTICE, THEY DESIRE RETRIBUTION FOR WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THEM, OR HOW DO YOU TRULY EXPECT THEIR HEARTS TO HEAL!"
"THEY SHOULD MOVE PAST IT THEN! DEATH DOESN'T BRING BACK THOSE WHO THEY'VE LOVED, IT DOESN'T GIVE IT ONLY TAKES, AND WHY WOULD WE ALLOW THE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS TO END US WITH MORE CORPSES!"
"DO YOU EVEN HEAR THE NONSENSE YOU SPEAK! YOU CLAIM THEIR EMOTIONS ARE NOT JUSTIFICATION FOR BLOOD, YET DEFEND THE PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE THE SAME THING. YOU WISH TO UNDERSTAND AND FORGIVE THE WEAKNESS OF THE WICKED BUT ASK THE INNOCENT FOR INFINITE STRENGTH."
"I DO BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT FROM YOU. Your heart, I can feel it even through all the force it uses to shake my body. I can feel the slight weakness, the pain deep within it, whenever the idea of Blamator's death comes into your mind. You don't want to kill them, you don't want to end their lives, because you see them as your children. Every single citizen in this country is someone you earnestly view as that, and I have seen the pain inflicted on a parent from losing their child, yet you still have the strength to do it."
Enchanted by his words, Dumitra freezes, and Orb, staring directly into her eyes, says, "I ask for strength from the innocent so that the innocent can continue to prosper, yet I will never allow them to bear the burden of anything I cannot handle myself. I promise any blow taken will land on me first, any fear felt shall be erased by me, and any worry that captures your heart shall disappear with me at their side. That's why I know Niflheim will be able to handle all of this, and that's why I ask you, please let me save Blamator, and save you."
She stares up at the sky and says, "Why, why do you wish to go this far for me despite everything you've already done?"
Smiling, Orb says, "Lots of reasons, but I think if there is any one, it's because I happen to be quite dazzled by you."
Φ My head drops down at his words, and in front of my eyes, I no longer see Orb, but her face pasted over him. Her dazzling cyan and blood red hair, her beautiful violet eyes, the white dress and silver coat she always wore. As her words, 'Of course I will help aunt, I happened to be quite dazzled by your existence. Also, I expect to sniff your hair as a reward."
Φ Dumitra picks up Orb and gives him a hug, causing the young boy's hair to turn pink as he says, "Ehh, are you coming onto me? If so, can my head be in your chest instead of against your neck?"
"Don't make me break your neck, boy. I'll accept your deal."
Pulling back, Orb says, "Really?"
"Yes, but with a caveat, I will only allow select members of Blamator to go with you; the rest will stay here and face their punishment."
"But, I can hand-."
"Sorry, but I can't allow that. There are a majority within Blamator who did this for less ideological reasons and mostly physical; they essentially sold off their people for economic gain. People like this aren't open to change as easily as the rest, and I can't allow them to cause trouble in Nifilheim, despite everything. I wish for us to have a strong bond in the future between our countries, and I don't need any anti-Nightmare sentiment taking root."
Lowering his head, Orb says, "Alright, I agree."
Squeezing his stomach and face, Dumitra says, "That's a good boy."
Staring at her, he asks, "Umm, are you going to let me go?"
"Not a chance."
"Okay!" Orb says right before swinging his head into her shoulder, and wrapping his body around hers.
-Break-
Location: Rooftop ofSoarele Blestemat
Φ Beaten and battered against the ground, Cyrus, with tears in his eyes, and Dumnorix with a tired smile, both look up towards the sky.
Orlok, holding his cheek, says, "It looks like you both managed to nick me. Congratulations."
Cyrus says, "I never want to do that again!"
Trying to rise from the ground, the greatest in all creation says, "I could go another round."
Looking at Dumnorix, Cyrus says, "I-I-I-I could go another round as well."
They both struggle as they try to force themselves onto their feet, yet Orlok smacks both of them against their heads, knocking them back to the ground, and says, "Don't bother, you've already done enough."
Walking away, he says, "If you want to know the secret to my strength, all you need to do is ask yourself a single question: in a world without violence, what would you do? If you can understand the depths of that question, your sword will be stronger than any foe could ever handle."
He vanishes from the roof, and as his presence leaves their own, the two of them fall unconscious, smacking their nogging against the floor, as Zahhak says, "I know you'll be the strongest one day, Cyrus, so rest well for now."